Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals

Self-medication for minor illnesses and complaints has become much more common in recent years. Patients make and drink herbal teas against colds, stomach aches, and nervousness. But their university studies ill-equip pharmacists and doctors to cope with the demand for competent counseling in this area. This book fills the gap. It contains detailed monographs on 181 medicinal herbs common in pharmaceutical practice. For each herb, this exciting text provides references to pharmacopoeial monographs, sources, synonyms, constituents (often with chemical structures), indications, side effects, preparation of a tea, commercially available phytomedicines, regulatory status, authentication using macroscopical, microscopical, and chromatographic techniques. Many of the herbs have photographs or drawings to aid the process of authentication and quality assurance. Quantitative studies, likely adulterations, and storage requirements complete the text that is supplemented by references to original scientific publications.